Also provides:

• a giant platform

• a payment system

• distribution network

• servers

• sales data

• fraud prevention

• networking

• automated build processes

Also the drm is completely optional. So if a game has it, it’s because the devs wanted it have it.

Edit: these are only a few. Take a look at the official steamworks page

Was like “they kinda have a point with a few of these” until I got to the steam deck one lmao.

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Is this a kid that wants free games like epic has been doing?

I don’t agree with anon entirely but I do appreciate his alternative take.

I stopped reading after the first like 5 were just blatant falsehoods.

Disclaimer: My steam account is turning 21 next month, and I own more games there than I’d like to admit.

There’s a lot of valid criticism of steam or valve.

The main one I’d say is the 30% cut. But that’s sadly basically industry standard. For an indie dev, that’s still a lot better than having to go through things like a publisher.

Oh, and lootboxes. fuck those. should be banned.

Other than that, let’s go through the list:

• paved way for MT: Mobile games did that first. And nobody is forcing you to use them. But people do. So they keep coming. Solution: don’t use them if you don’t like them (but hint: people genuinely like them). (Although lootboxes etc are a whole different and rightfully critisized thing that should indeed be banned)
• forces you to get the mobile app: I mean, it’s annoying, sure. But I wouldn’t call it spyware. Personally, I’d be happier with a simpler TOTP 2FA integration. What it does do is cut down massively on account hacking
• The multiplayer API is quite nice. Personally, I don’t really care much about pirated games, but I can kind of understand them not working with steam. But that’s 100% on the game developer. They are the ones integration steamworks. Or any other matchmaking service.
• stopped HL3: Not really. For a long time they already stated that they will not be forcing HL3 development “just to get HL3 out”. They will develop it when they have an idea and story that will absolutely be worth to tell. and it will have some accompanying tech “revolution” with it. HL:Alyx was close. I’m still surprised that they didn’t use that as a base to start HL3 (or maybe they secretly do?)
• gamification: it’s not really that much more gamified than having any other game collection before steam? It’s just a lot more social and easier to obtain. Would I have spent this much money on games without steam? no. Would it even be possible? Likely also no. Too many indie games due to steam.
• pay for animated wallpapers/avatars: I mean… okay? Personally, I have some weird animated wallpaper, but I got that for free somewhere. and it’s annoying as hell.
• Broken features: I don’t really encounter any broken features. Even my Steam Link hardware box still works (although last time I tested it was a couple months ago). Even the single group chat I’m in works fine.
• Steam chat: no idea what the features are they are talking about. So no comment.
• Useless reviews: The world moved on from 5-star reviews. With almost all reviews either being 5 stars or 1 stars, it doesn’t really make a difference. In the end the question is: would you recommend it? Which can be somewhat binary, or at least tending towards one direction. For details, use text
• family share: I mean, that’s kind of the point. The idea is to simulate having only one copy. So you’ll get booted out if someone else you’re sharing with is using it.
• steam deck worse notebook: kind of. But my linux laptop also doesn’t have a dedicated GPU. and gamepad controls.
• JS desktop app: oh boy, it was so much worse when it wasn’t
• it’s not literally an always on DRM. there’s literally an offline mode. If the developer wants an online connection, annoy the developer.

tl;dr: apart from the gambling enabling, it’s fine.

Not in for the discussion, but to add info:

You could use e.g. KeepassXC or “steam desktop authenticator” to avoid their aweful app.